How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

my uncle had a more radical proceedure done about 25 yrs ago. he lost about 365 lbs over a year. i was afraid of it at first because i hadnt yet done any research. once i discovered that the proceedure was much safer, with less side effects, and was covered by my insurance i was ready.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

my insurance company was great. i was approved in two weeks. my advice would be to make sure you have everything documented, such as; weight loss programs, medical records and such. my dr. was well prepared for the ins co. and informed me as to what documentation i would need on the first visit. i think that made a big difference.

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

i was sooo nervous on my first visit, but my doc was incredible and put me at ease. to get the most of out this first visit i wrote all my questions down and went down the list asking them and writing the answers he gave me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

what pushed me over the top was my health issues. i was relatively healthy for being morbidly obese, but i knew the medical problems i had would only get worse over time. i also was concerned about not being able to be as active as i wanted to be.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

my doc and i discussed the proceedures and together decided that open RNY was the best one for me.

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

i was very afraid about complication or dying. before the surgery, i got all my afairs in order, just in case. i did have serious complications, but before hand i had told myself that i am a strong woman and that i would do what ever i had to (everything the docs said to do) to make it thru this. i meditated to give myself (mind body and soul) the strength to do this.

How did your family and friends react to your decision? Would you have communicated anything differently if you could now? How supportive were they after your surgery?

at first they were not happy about it. my husband supported my decision from day one. once my family figured out that i wasnt changing my mind, they decided to support me 100%

What was your stay in the hospital like? How long where you there? What things are most important to bring?

i was in the hospital 7 days and in ICU for 3 of those 7 days. it was ok, but then again..i dont like hospitals. the only things i actually used out of everything i brought was my toothbrush and my deoderant. everything else was provided by the hospital.

Did you have any complications from the surgery? If so, how did you deal with them?

yes, i had a small leak and double pnuemonia. i really didnt have to deal with any of it at the time. the leak was discovered because my bloodpressure dropped to 65/25. the top lobes of both my lungs collapsed and i was put on oxygen. after all of this they brought my hemoglobin up from 7.2 with 2 pints of blood. once i came too in ICU and was told about all of this, i decided that i was gonna get better. i pushed to get up and move around. i cut down on the pain meds so i could stay awake to do these things. the hospital was great with keeping me out of pain...but i wanted to stay awake!

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

actually i have felt pretty good. i was a little nervous about the surgery, but was determined to do this. it was all down hill after i got out of the hospital. its getting better every day!

Describe your first few weeks home from the hospital. What should people expect from this period?

i had my mom come and take care of me, because i knew i couldnt. i had open RNY and have a 12 inch scar from breast bone to belly button. at 15 days out i traveled 700 miles to my moms house (with my docs permission) so i could see my daughters graduation.

How far did you travel to have your surgery? (If far, how did this affect your aftercare?)

about 45 miles, it takes me about an hour and 15 minutes to drive it. so far it hasnt been a problem.

Please describe in detail what things you could and couldn't eat in the weeks and months following surgery. What foods have been off limits? Please explain how your dietary tolerance changed week-by-week, and then month-by-month since surgery.

so far there is not one single food that i have tried that has not been tolerated well..i have stayed away from large amounts of sugar and i havent tried steak yet. currently im still on pureed foods. i am not lactose intolerant.

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

my activity level was low at first. but once i could get up on my own it has steadily increased

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

i take two multi vitamin and calcium supplements every day. i use GNC powder protein as a supplement. I also take B-12 shots once a month for energy.

What side effects (nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbace, dumping, hair loss etc.) were worse for you? For how long after surgery did they persist? How did you cope with them?

i think the gas pains after surgery was the worse part for me. it only lasted for about 4 days.

What was the worst part about the entire bariatric surgery process?

for me, the worse part about the entire process was when the docs requested an MRI of my stomach. i had to lay on my stomach in the MRI machine three days after surgery.

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

My only support after surgery was my family and online friends. I live so far away from my Dr. that it was difficult to get to the support meetings. I have done very well with this support.

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

My scar is not as bad as I expected. It has healed nicely. I am however concerned about the plastic surgery part.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Definately. No more rude comments or stares. Its awsome, but then again, I wonder why someone would treat another human being so rudely because of their size.